Compare towns
Lee vs Webster vs Deerfield vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Deerfield has the most expensive homes ($415k median).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lee | Webster | Deerfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
17,748Highest |
5,158 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Deerfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Deerfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
— |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 38% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lee | Webster | Deerfield · Frontier | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Bartlett High School | Frontier Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.